Fire Alarms in Care Homes: Legislation, Installation, and Best Practices

Care homes have a unique duty to protect some of society’s most vulnerable individuals – the elderly and those with disabilities – from the risk of fire. These facilities operate 24/7 and often house residents who may be hard of hearing, have limited mobility, or have cognitive impairments. In such settings, every second counts in an emergency, making a reliable fire alarm system critical.

This article provides care home owners and managers with a comprehensive guide to fire alarm requirements and best practices. We will cover legal obligations, including the latest regulations, as well as options for fire alarm systems, installation, maintenance, testing routines and integration with broader fire safety measures, such as sprinklers and evacuation plans.

By the end, you will know how to keep your care home safe and compliant, and we will explain how to obtain expert assistance, including a free quote for your fire safety requirements.

Fire safety in UK care homes is governed by strict legislation. The cornerstone is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, often called the Fire Safety Order, which applies to all non-domestic premises, including care homes. This law designates a “responsible person” (usually the care home owner or manager) who must ensure the safety of everyone on the premises. Key legal duties under the Fire Safety Order include conducting a fire risk assessment and taking appropriate measures to minimise fire risks and protect residents, staff and visitors. In practice, this means that the responsible person must ensure that the care home is equipped with the necessary fire detection and alarm systems, adequate fire-fighting equipment and planned emergency routes.

They are also required to maintain all fire safety equipment, provide staff training, and hold regular fire drills. Failure to meet these obligations is a serious offence – authorities have prosecuted care home operators for safety breaches, leading to heavy fines and even the threat of imprisonment. (For example, in 2024, two care home directors in East Sussex were fined over £120,000 after inspectors found defective alarms and other fire safety failings.) Compliance is not just a legal mandate but a moral responsibility, given the high stakes in protecting vulnerable lives.

Latest Fire Safety Regulations (2023–2025)

Recent updates in UK fire safety law have introduced new requirements specifically for care homes. Notably, from 1st October 2023, amendments to the Fire Safety Order (via the Building Safety Act 2022) have strengthened obligations for “Responsible Persons,” including improved record-keeping of fire safety information and enhanced enforcement powers for authorities. Even more significantly, from 2nd March 2025, all newly built care homes must have automatic sprinkler systems installed, regardless of building height. This change in building regulations (Approved Document B) is aimed at improving protection for care home residents by quickly suppressing fires. Sprinklers, used alongside a good fire alarm system, greatly improve the chances of safe evacuation by controlling a fire at its early stages.

Additionally, care providers are now expected to implement Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for each resident who would need assistance in an emergency. These individualised plans ensure that there is a clear strategy to evacuate each person safely as soon as the alarm sounds. Overall, legislation is becoming increasingly stringent in order to protect vulnerable people, with measures ranging from the mandatory installation of sprinklers in new homes to the emphasis placed on bespoke evacuation planning. Care home managers must stay informed about these changes and ensure that their fire safety measures align with the latest standards.

Standards and best practices specifically call for comprehensive fire alarm coverage in care homes. Care homes are required to install the highest level of fire alarm protection, known as a Category L1 system. Under British Standard BS 5839-1, which guides fire alarm design in non-domestic buildings, a Category L1 system means automatic fire detection in all areas of the building that could present a fire risk. This includes every bedroom and living area, all corridors and escape routes, as well as ancillary spaces like kitchens, storerooms, and roof voids above a certain size. In short, an L1 system provides comprehensive coverage, ensuring that a fire is detected as soon as possible, regardless of where it starts. This early warning is crucial in care homes, as it gives staff more time to assist any residents who may need help evacuating.

Addressable Systems

Modern care home fire alarms are typically addressable systems rather than older conventional zoned systems. An addressable fire alarm panel can pinpoint the exact detector or call point that has been activated, displaying, for example, “Room 12 – Second Floor” instead of just a vague zone location. Recent guidance effectively requires care homes to use addressable fire alarm systems, because knowing precisely where the smoke or heat is detected is vital when every second counts. By immediately identifying the room or area in alarm, staff can direct response and evacuation efforts efficiently to the source of danger. (In the past, some care homes had only zoned alarms covering large areas; however, new installations are expected to link each detector to the panel individually for precise location monitoring.) Addressable systems also help reduce confusion during an incident and can integrate with other safety systems, as we’ll discuss later.

Additional Detection Features

Care homes should have a mix of detectors to suit different parts of the premises. Smoke detectors are the primary device in bedrooms and lounges, as they give the fastest warning of smouldering fires. Heat detectors might be installed in kitchens or boiler rooms where occasional smoke or steam could cause unwanted alarms – the heat sensors will trigger only when there’s a significant temperature rise. Manual call points, or fire alarm break-glass units, must be placed at exits and on each floor so that staff or visitors can manually raise the alarm if they discover a fire. All alarm sounders should be audible throughout the building. It is also recommended that visual alarm devices (flashing beacons) be included in areas where there may be hearing-impaired residents or staff. In bedrooms occupied by profoundly deaf residents, specialist solutions such as vibrating pillow pads linked to the alarm system may be considered (this level of detail would be specified in the person’s Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)). The goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their limitations, is alerted quickly when a fire is detected.

Compliance with Standards

 While the law doesn’t usually dictate technical specifics, following British Standards is considered the best way to ensure your fire alarm is “appropriate” as required by the Fire Safety Order. BS 5839-1 (2017, with the upcoming 2025 update) outlines the code of practice for system design, installation, and maintenance. Compliance with BS 5839 is often expected by fire risk assessors, insurers, and regulators. For example, the standard now explicitly calls for smoke detectors in all bedrooms of care homes (to protect sleeping residents) and requires a clear zone plan to be displayed by the fire alarm panel showing all detection zones. By adhering to these standards, such as installing an L1 addressable system with full coverage, care home managers can be confident they are meeting their obligations to provide a proper warning system.

Designing a fire alarm system for a care home requires careful planning to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to meet the practical needs of the home’s operations. To ensure compliance with BS 5839-1 guidelines, it is highly recommended that you engage a competent fire alarm engineer or company (ideally accredited under schemes like BAFE SP203) to design and install the system. The process typically begins with a thorough evaluation of the building’s layout, usage, and fire risk factors, often drawing on the findings of the fire risk assessment. Key design considerations include the number and placement of detectors, alarm sound levels (ensuring that sounders or sirens can awaken sleeping residents), backup power supplies for the alarm panel and integration with other building systems, such as electronic door releases (magnetic door holders that release to close fire doors when the alarm sounds).

In a care home, it’s also vital to configure alarm zones in a logical way – even with addressable detection, the system will group detectors into zones on the panel for overview. Typically, each floor or each fire compartment is a separate zone, which assists firefighters and staff in assessing the situation. Government care home fire guidance suggests that each zone or compartment should be evacuable in about 2.5 minutes, reflecting the need for a prompt, structured evacuation of each section of the building. This is achieved through both good alarm system design (immediate detection and notification in the affected area) and having enough staff on hand to move residents, as discussed in the evacuation planning section.

Wired vs. Wireless Systems

One important choice when installing a new system (or upgrading an old one) is whether to use a traditional wired alarm or a modern wireless fire alarm system. Wireless fire alarm systems have improved greatly in recent years and are now just as reliable and effective as hard-wired systems. They communicate via radio signals between the detectors, call points, and the central panel, all fully compliant with BS 5839 and EN54 standards. The big advantage of wireless alarms is the minimal disruption during installation: there’s no need to run cables throughout the building, which means no drilling through walls or lifting floorboards, etc.. This can be a huge benefit in an active care home, removing the worry about construction dust, noise and moving residents during the installation process. Wireless or hybrid systems (wireless devices with a wired panel) are therefore a popular retrofit option in care homes and other occupied buildings, and they’re also ideal for historic or listed buildings where cabling is problematic. On the other hand, wired systems may be slightly cheaper in terms of equipment, as they don’t rely on batteries in each device (wireless detectors run on long-life batteries that require periodic replacement). In practice, both system types can meet the required standards. A fire protection professional can advise you on the best solution for your home’s particular infrastructure and budget.

Alarm Monitoring (Auto-Diallers)

Because of the high-risk nature of care homes, it is strongly recommended – and effectively expected by modern standards – that the fire alarm be linked to an automatic alarm monitoring service. An auto-dialler or alarm transmission unit can automatically call out a remote monitoring centre or the Fire and Rescue Service when the alarm activates. This ensures that even if a fire occurs in the middle of the night when minimal staff are on duty, help will be alerted without delay. In many care homes, staff will investigate an alarm activation quickly, but due to the vulnerability of residents, there is usually a policy to call the fire brigade as soon as an alarm is confirmed (and never ignore or silence an alarm until the cause is known).

Automatic monitoring can be set up to signal an alarm to an external receiving centre the moment it is triggered, or after a brief delay to allow staff to cancel a false alarm if your procedure permits. Please note that some fire authorities have protocols in place to reduce false alarm call-outs (for example, they may require confirmation of a fire unless it is an automatic sprinkler activation or multiple detectors have been triggered). Nevertheless, a monitored alarm provides a vital safety net: BS 5839-1 now recommends installing auto-dialler facilities in residential care premises.

When arranging installation, ask your fire alarm provider about linking the system to a 24-hour monitoring service or directly to the local fire service (if available in your area). This could be lifesaving in an emergency and may also be required by your insurance or the local authority.

Simply installing a compliant fire alarm system is not enough; it must also be regularly maintained and tested to ensure that it will work when needed. UK fire regulations (and insurers) stipulate that fire alarms must be kept in ‘effective working order’ at all times, meaning care homes require a clear maintenance schedule. According to British Standard BS 5839-1, a fire alarm system should be inspected and serviced by a competent person at least every six months. Due to the higher risk, many care homes choose to have quarterly professional servicing, but twice a year is the minimum required for compliance with the standard.

These professional inspections involve thoroughly checking the panel functions, testing a sample of detectors and call points during each visit (ensuring that all are tested over the course of a year), checking the alarm sounders and any auto-dialler, and verifying the battery back-ups and power supplies. After each service, the engineer will provide a log of what was tested and note any deficiencies or devices that need replacing. It is important to keep these service records to demonstrate that your system is being maintained, as CQC inspectors or fire officers may ask to see your fire safety logbook.

In addition to professional servicing, weekly testing of the fire alarm is a must in care homes. British Standards advise that a manual call point be activated every week (typically at a set time) to verify that the alarm sounds and the panel receives the signal. Each week, use a different call point in rotation, so over time all parts of the system are checked. The responsible person or a designated staff member can carry out this weekly test – it’s a simple procedure of inserting a small key into a call point to trigger it. All test activations, as well as any alarm activations or faults, should be recorded in the fire logbook. Regular testing gives reassurance that the system is operational and also helps staff remain familiar with the alarm tone and procedure.

Maintenance Duties

Daily, staff should visually check the panel for any fault lights or warnings. The Fire Safety Order explicitly requires that fire safety equipment is kept in efficient working order and good repair. If a fault occurs (e.g. a detector head is giving trouble or a sounder isn’t working), it’s important to get it fixed promptly by a qualified technician – do not leave systems disabled for extended periods. Furthermore, plan for the maintenance of components such as backup batteries, which typically need replacing every four years or as specified by the manufacturer, and detector heads, which may become less sensitive due to dust build-up over a decade. Many professionals recommend replacing or deep cleaning detector heads every 10 years.

 

Keep spare break-glass elements for call points on hand in case one is broken. Also, ensure any alarm printer or remote signalling unit (if you have one) has paper, etc., and is functioning. By staying on top of maintenance, you not only remain compliant with the law (“adequately maintained” system) but, more importantly, you ensure the alarm will perform without fail in an emergency. The care home environment can be harsh on alarm devices (grease from kitchens, dust from laundry, occasional accidental knocks), so a proactive maintenance culture is essential.

Finally, you should always log any maintenance work, inspections, tests, false alarms and engineer visits. These records will help you to identify patterns, such as repeated false alarms from a particular detector indicating that it should be replaced or relocated, and demonstrate compliance. Remember that a well-maintained fire alarm system is the cornerstone of fire safety in your care home – it provides the early warning that gives everyone the best chance to escape.

A fire alarm system doesn’t stand alone – it’s part of a holistic fire protection strategy, especially in care homes where multiple layers of safety are needed. One major development in care home fire safety is the inclusion of sprinkler systems. As mentioned earlier, starting in 2025, all newly built care homes will be required to install automatic sprinklers. Sprinklers and fire alarms work together hand-in-hand: the fire alarm detects a fire in its incipient stage and alerts staff and residents to begin evacuation, while the sprinklers (if the fire grows) will activate to control or extinguish the flames, preventing flashover and limiting smoke production.

Even in existing care homes where sprinklers are not mandatory, installing a suppression system (sprinklers or newer watermist systems) can be an excellent safety upgrade – many insurers and fire professionals highly recommend them for the added protection of immobile residents. In particular, watermist sprinkler systems have been highlighted as being very suitable for care homes because they use much less water than traditional sprinklers, reducing water damage while still effectively controlling fires. If you have a suppression system, it is usually linked to the fire alarm panel, meaning that any sprinkler activation will trigger the alarm and vice versa. The panel can also signal the sprinklers or other systems where needed. This integration ensures a coordinated response: for example, when a sprinkler head activates in a room, an alarm is raised throughout the building so that staff can respond and assist with the evacuation.

Another critical aspect of integration is building evacuation systems. Many care homes practice a “defend in place” or progressive horizontal evacuation strategy due to residents’ limited mobility. This means that on an alarm, staff will move residents from the affected zone to an adjacent safe zone (protected by fire-resistant construction) rather than evacuating everyone outside immediately.

To facilitate this, the fire alarm can be programmed with a two-stage alarm or evacuation alert system. For example, the alarm sound in the affected wing might be different (or louder) than in other parts of the building, or there may be an initial alarm for staff (to investigate or start moving people) before a general alarm. Any such cause-and-effect programming must be carefully designed and in line with the fire strategy for the home. Magnetic fire door holders should be connected to the alarm system so that doors automatically close in the event of a fire alarm, helping to compartmentalise the building and prevent smoke spread. Likewise, any smoke control systems or automatic opening vents (AOVs) in stairwells would interface with the alarm system to open or close as necessary to keep escape routes clear of smoke.

These technical integrations highlight the importance of involving knowledgeable fire alarm specialists, who will ensure that all components (such as detectors, alarms, sprinklers, vents and emergency lighting) work together according to a coherent fire safety plan.

Emergency Lighting and Signage

While not part of the fire alarm system per se, emergency escape lighting and exit signs are crucial companions to it. Once the alarm sounds, you need illuminated escape routes (especially if mains power fails during a fire). Care homes must have adequate emergency lighting and clear signage on all escape routes. The alarm installer will often coordinate with emergency lighting installers to make sure, for instance, that the fire alarm can trigger the lights on (if they aren’t maintained as always-on) and that illuminated exit signs are in all the right places.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

As noted, every resident who cannot self-evacuate should have a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. This is usually documented by the care home management for each individual, detailing how they will be alerted of a fire and what assistance they require to reach a place of safety. PEEPs are not a device or alarm, but they are an integral part of your fire alarm strategy. For example, a PEEP might specify that a resident in Room 10 is hard of hearing and needs a vibrating alert, which informs the choice of installing a vibrating pillow or strobe light in that room linked to the alarm. Another PEEP might note that a resident on the first floor is wheelchair-bound and will need two staff members to assist using an evacuation chair via the stairwell – this informs staffing levels and training.

The fire alarm’s role is to trigger the execution of these PEEPs by giving an immediate and unmistakable warning. Staff should be drilled in the PEEP procedures so that when that alarm rings, they know exactly which residents to go to first and how to help them. Recent regulatory emphasis on PEEPs, particularly following high-profile fire incidents, means that inspectors will expect to see them in place and in use. As a care home manager, you should ensure that your fire alarm provisions (such as extra sounders, visual alarms or automatic links to the fire brigade) meet the needs identified in your residents’ PEEPs.

Staff Training and Fire Drills

A fire alarm system is only as effective as the human response to it. All care home staff must be trained in fire safety procedures – this is both a legal requirement and a Care Quality Commission (CQC) expectation. Staff should know how to operate the fire alarm panel (e.g. silencing and resetting after a drill or false alarm, without delaying in a real fire), how to activate the alarm manually if they discover a fire, and how to assist in evacuation.

Training should cover the use of any emergency equipment (like evacuation sledges, fire extinguishers, if part of your policy, etc.) and the specifics of your building’s alarm and compartmentation. Induction training for new staff should include fire safety, and refresher training is recommended at least annually – indeed, British guidance (BS 9999:2017 and others) suggests fire drills for care staff as often as necessary (many homes do drills every 6 months, and at minimum one per year is advised, with different scenarios each time).

During drills, test various conditions, such as an evacuation at night with minimal staff or a scenario where the usual route is blocked. Every drill should be documented, noting the date, which staff participated, how long it took to evacuate a zone, and any lessons learned. This documentation will help to improve your emergency plans and demonstrate compliance with the relevant authorities. Test the fire alarm system during drills (often, the weekly test can be turned into a full drill). Ensure that staff experience the sound of the alarm and realistically practise the PEEP actions.

Ultimately, when the alarm sounds unexpectedly, both staff and residents should react promptly and correctly: staff should guide and reassure residents, and everyone should know where to go (usually to a safe refuge area or assembly point). Regular training and drills transform the fire alarm from a mere noise-maker into an orchestrator of a practised emergency response that can save lives.

Fire alarms in care homes are not just a regulatory checkbox – they are a life-saving necessity that underpins the safety and well-being of residents and staff. By understanding the legal requirements and ensuring your care home’s alarm system is up to the latest standards, you protect your business and, more importantly, the people in your care. In this article, we discussed how current UK law (like the Fire Safety Order 2005) makes care home owners and managers responsible for robust fire detection and warning systems, and we highlighted new regulations such as mandatory sprinklers in new care homes by 2025 and the emphasis on personal evacuation plans. We examined what constitutes a proper care home fire alarm system – typically a modern, addressable Category L1 system with detectors in every room – as well as the importance of professional installation that is tailored to the specific needs of your building. We also covered the essential maintenance, testing and staff training routines that ensure the system remains effective around the clock. Finally, we covered the essential maintenance, testing and staff training routines that ensure the system remains effective around the clock.

Now it’s time to take action. Is your care home’s fire alarm up to scratch? Have you reviewed your fire safety measures against the latest standards? If you have any doubts or if you’re planning improvements – whether it’s an upgrade to an addressable panel, adding a wireless detector in a new extension, or integrating a sprinkler system – we’re here to help.

Our team of fire safety specialists has extensive experience with care homes across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Sheffield and the surrounding regions. We understand the specific challenges of protecting care home environments and staying compliant with UK regulations.

Contact us today for a free consultation and quote on fire alarm installation, system upgrades, or maintenance services. We can visit your care home to assess your current setup and provide expert recommendations – all at no obligation. Let us partner with you to ensure your care home remains safe, compliant, and well-prepared against fire emergencies.

After all, when it comes to caring for those who depend on you, there is no such thing as too much safety, and a reliable fire alarm system is at the heart of keeping everyone in your home protected.

 Author: Adrian Sienkiewicz, Fire And Security Project Manager at AKSA Security

Adrian started his career as an IT Support Engineer but after a while, he moved into the security industry using his experience with IT systems. He started his first security job as a Fire and Security Engineer at ALX Security and then continued as a Fire and Security Project Manager at Bull Security.

During his career, he has worked for SECURIFIX, LASER BEAM and ZICAM GROUP as a Security Engineer, Technical Support and Operations Manager. Adrian has worked on security projects for companies such as DHL, Selco Building Warehouse and Eddie Stobart, installing anti-burglary systems, industrial surveillance and access control systems. He is working on a partnership basis with companies such as Avigilon, Motorola, Honeywell, Texecom, Hikvision, Hanwha, Dahua, Commtel, Paxton and BFT.

Adrian is a certified National Security Industry auditor.